Joe Newell isn't pinning blame on Kyle Magennis for how Hibs lost to St Johnstone on Friday night.
The midfielder was making his first Premiership start since last year in front of a packed Easter Road but was sent off for two bookings. Lee Johnson's men were in control of the match up to that point but his dismissal on the hour-mark changed the game, and Nicky Clark plus Stevie May goals sealed a 2-1 victory for Callum Davidson's visitors.
It was a sore moment for Magennis but midfield teammate Newell was impressed with his performance up until that point, and expects him to come again for Hibs.
READ MORE: Lee Johnson dismisses Hibs red card factor as reason for St Johnstone second half dismay
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He told the Sunday Mail: "He’s been out for a year and was playing unbelievably well. There won’t be one person in the dressing room that will have a gripe against Kyle. He’s going to look back and be annoyed but we should dig him out of the hole really. He has worked so hard to get back and played really well up until that point.
“Things happen and we should have ground it out for him but we didn’t. He said ‘sorry lads’ but there’s not one person who would blame him for that.
“After the year he’s had it’s completely understandable for him to be that enthusiastic. That’s part of his game, he’s aggressive, he likes tackling and it was just one of those things.
“It’s like when I got sent-off in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts after playing every game of the season prior to that. As soon as you do it, you think, ‘What did I do that for?’ But it’s just that will of trying to win the ball. There’s no hard feelings towards Kyle whatsoever."
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